DO YOU NEED A BREAKTHROUGH IN YOUR LIFE?

(2 Samuel 5:17-20 ESV) When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 

Do you feel like you are stuck? Are you in need of a breakthrough in your life? I know that we all feel that way at times.  We have gone as far as we can and the only way to go beyond is for a supernatural breakthrough. I have been there a number of times and have seen the hand of God move on my behalf over and over again.

Here's the thing: If we want to experience a supernatural breakthrough in our lives, we need to stir up our HUNGER for God.

In this story - when David and his men were surrounded by the enemies, they looked to the Lord, and God responded by saying, “I am the Lord of the breakthrough!”

How do you know if you need a breakthrough? If you’re bored, you have no joy, no peace, no passion for Jesus, no vision or direction for your life or ministry, no excitement in your spirit. You’re not experiencing the abundant life that Jesus died to bring you. It might be that you might need a breakthrough in your emotional state, health, finances, relationships…

(Rev. 2:4-5) “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” 

The first thing we need to do if we want a spiritual breakthrough is to return to our first love and then we need to learn to prevail in prayer.

(Gen. 32:24-26) “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him… And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 

Jacob persevered in prayer, and God responded to him by giving him a new life, new nature, and a new name. No longer was he going to be Jacob, the deceiver, but he would now be Israel, Prince with God.

(Psalm 42:1-2) “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” 

Do you see the hunger here? When we hunger for God's presence - as a hunted deer longs to plunge into the cool, refreshing streams of water - it is then that we will experience breakthrough.

Look at how David sought after God...

(Psalm 63:1-2) “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” 

David was a man after God’s own heart, and He was hungry to know God. When David went to the temple, he wasn’t content to just sing songs about God, or hear stories about Him, but he wanted to encounter Him personally in His power and glory.

Every encounter of breakthrough in the Bible came when desperate people did desperate things to come to God:

- The woman with the issue of blood
- Blind Bartimaeus who sat along the road and yelled for Jesus to help him
- The healing of the Centerion's servant
- etc.

These and many more people in the Bible didn't care what people said or thought.  Their only desire was to get the attention of Jesus.

Do you need breakthrough in your life?  If so, get yourself to be really hungry for the presence of God and the God of Breakthrough will bring a great victory over you today.